How to Feed Soy to Your Child

Child Nutrition with Soy Protein

Soy protein, the only commercially viable source of well-digested, high-quality plant-based protein, supplies all the essential amino acids in the proper ratio, to support healthy growth and development in children.

The Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) of soy protein is 1.00, indicating that it is a high-quality protein, containing all of the essential amino acids in the right ratio to support healthy growth and development. PDCAAS is a global standard for protein quality evaluation established by the World Health Organization (WHO).
[Source: DuPont]

Soy protein has always played a significant role in child development. However, making a child eat nutritious food is quite a herculean task and atop that, feeding soya is another challenge. Why go far? I remember me as a child would get quite intrigued by the soy advertisement on the TV and end up buying the box from the departmental store. However, I would barely ever consume it. Reason? The taste. 

Yes, often we buy product basis their notional value but some of us fail to integrate the product with our kitchen recipe or the accelerated taste bud of the new age kid. And often we let that bad experience to grow an aversion towards that food or trying new sustainable food options. 

Well, as I suggested, the taste is not a reason but the preparation is.  The good news, it can be fixed! There are numerous ways to make soya to suit individual taste and to the different forms of soy protein available in the market i.e. Chunk, Mini and Granules compliment to that process. 

Here's how you can make Soya Protein interesting for children-

1) Soya Pulao
Boil the chunks and mix it in the favorite pulao of the child which may include berry pulao, peas pulao or general veg pulao. Mix it during the Pulav prep and not post cooking as a garnish. The Soy should mix well with other veggies. It works really well for parents who want to replace the unhealthy non-vegetarian meat from their child's meal to a portion of healthier food.

2) Soya Chinese 
Children love eating Chinese food. Add a little Chinese style flavor, some soya sauce and a bowl-full of fun are ready for couch potatoes. It works wonderfully with teenagers too. 

3) Soya Sandwich
Fine grind the soy and mix with your child's favorite stuffing, cook adequately and fill inside the sandwich, topped with some yum tomato sauce. As they like it!

4) Soya Burger
Mix the Soya granules in the patty. And make the regular burger. The invisible patty granule will help develop the taste and calls for consumption without fuss. 

5) Soy Chocolate Milk Shake
It is readily available in the market. Stock your fridge with them and replace colas with Soya Milk esp in Summers. Children generally say no to Milk but rarely to Chocolates.

6) Flavored Soy Milk
If your kid does not like chocolate than Soy milk also comes in different flavors like strawberry, chocolate, Vanilla etc. 

The idea is to mix the Soya into one of the favorite food of your child, along with different ingredients to make them accustomed to the taste. Plain, bland Soya would not entice kids. So it's up to you to make it interesting for them. You need to get a little innovative and see the magic.

Another thing you need to check is the serving portion. There is a prescribed portion of say 5-10 grams of Soy protein that is equivalent to 1 cup of Soy Milk, 1/2 cup cooked Soybeans, 1/2 cup Tofu, or some soy nuts. However, it is just a common suggested portion and may vary from child to child. So, always better to take the help of your doctor/pediatrician.

So tell me, what are you planning to make with Soya today for your child? :)

PS: Do check for any kind of allergy towards Soy in your child before feeding it. You can consult your local pediatrician or dietician for the same.

Stay Haute, Stay Healthy,
Haute Kutir

Pic Source: One Green Planet